Jacinda Ardern never expected to have to pick her walkout music - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Dame Jacinda Ardern has had her life shaped by music. (Supplied: ABC TV)

When Jacinda Ardern decided to run for prime minister of Aotearoa/New Zealand in 2017, she knew there would be a lot of surprising moments. But there was one she hadn't anticipated.

"One of the things that you don't prepare for is when they come and say, 'What song would you like when you walk onto a stage?'" Ardern says.

Things were moving fast for the young politician, 37 at the time. An MP since 2008, she won a by-election in Mount Albert, Auckland, in February 2017, and became deputy leader of the Labour Party in March.

Only five months later, after historically low polls, Labour's leader Andrew Little resigned, and Ardern was elected unopposed in his place. In October 2017, as part of a coalition, she became the world's youngest female head of government.

"It was a big, big year," Ardern tells Zan Rowe on ABC iview's Take 5.

But before that could happen, Ardern had to pick a song that captured who she was as a person and as a leader. When she finally settled on Star by local band Shapeshifter, she wasn't sure how people would react.

"I remember thinking, 'I'd really like to have Shapeshifter as my song, [but] is it going to be OK?'"

She believes it was the first time the Labour Party Conference had been blasted with drum and bass, a favourite genre of hers.

"I guess I gravitated to a song that felt optimistic."

But she is very particular about the perfect moment in the song for her entrance.

"We wait for the drop," she laughs.

"If they cue too early, I'm going to hold."

Music has been an important part of Ardern's life from the start, shaping who she is today and giving her an outlet when she needs it most.

Some of Ardern's earliest music memories are of her mum playing her beloved country music records in their lounge room. She also signed her two daughters up for Country and Western Club.

"My Aunty Karen sewed little shirts for us with the tassels, and every Friday night my sister and I would go down to the local community hall, and we would sing country and western music," says Ardern.

After living first in the North Island forestry town of Murupara, the family moved to Morrinsville, a dairy region near Hamilton.

Jacinda Ardern says she listened to all kinds of music when growing up. (Supplied: ABC TV)

As a teenager, Ardern would drive around visiting friends on their farms, her Discman plugged into the car through the tape deck. She listened to all kinds of music, including Smashing Pumpkins.

"I was a pretty earnest teenager, you know, I was raised in religion, I was a student rep at my school … but I guess everyone needs an outlet," she says.

"The Smashing Pumpkins had the lyrics that spoke to that teenage angst. But also just great music, no matter who you are or where you are."

Moving to Wellington in the early 2000s really opened up the world to a sheltered young Ardern.

After joining the Labour Party at 17 and years of volunteering, Ardern was offered a position as a researcher in parliament.

Jacinda Ardern's father was a policeman for 40 years. (Supplied: Jacinda Ardern)

"Here I am, this small-town kid — pretty thin-skinned, pretty emotional, with my heart on my sleeve," she says.

"I didn't feel well suited to politics, but the idea of working behind the scenes was pretty thrilling. Just being able to be useful, without being front of house."

In Wellington, she was exposed to the world of politics, met people with different beliefs, and discovered whole new genres of music.

That's where she stumbled upon the heart-racing joy of drum and bass — which she and future-husband Clarke Gayford bonded over on their first date. (Fun fact: Shapeshifter recorded one of their albums in Gayford's backyard).

Jacinda Ardern performs a DJ set at Laneway Festival in Auckland, 2014. (Supplied: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

She also became a fan of the seven-piece group Fat Freddy's Drop — now practically Wellington royalty — and loved seeing them live.

"It was a time when Fat Freddy's Drop were capturing New Zealanders' hearts," she says.

"No matter where I've seen them, you feel like you're part of a big giant celebration."

Ardern was still a practising Mormon during this expansive period of discovery, and she says she started to struggle with her old way of looking at things.

"I was always aware of the fact that, here I was in my 20s, campaigning for civil unions, campaigning for our LGBTQI+ community, and on Sunday I was going to a church that didn't believe in that.

When she did decide to leave, she says her family were "very kind".

Many years later, when Ardern arrived at Parliament House after being officially sworn in as prime minister, members of Fat Freddy's Drop were playing on the street alongside the welcome party.

"It was so beautiful of them to do that with this big crowd of people," Ardern says.

"It was just such a New Zealand moment."

The year 2019 was not an easy one for the country. In March, mosques in Christchurch were terrorised by mass shootings, where 51 people were killed, and 89 others were injured. In December, 22 people died when the volcano on Whakaari/White Island erupted.

Then in early 2020, the world went into COVID lockdown.

During this time, the prime minister was interviewing on TV when they experienced a small seismic event.

"You know, just in that moment, as the ground started shaking, you're thinking, 'Come on,'" she says.

"Of course, I'll keep going, but the universe has to let up at some point. Give me a break!"

New Zealand had one of the lowest rates of COVID deaths per capita among developed countries. (AP: Nick Perry)

Ardern decided to step down from politics in January 2023, but until then, she turned to music for relief.

"I went through this period where I would, at the beginning of the year, ambitiously pick a song that was going to be my theme song," she says.

For a few years she picked the same track, This Year by The Mountain Goats.

An iconic song from 2005, it is still immediately recognisable for its refrain: "I am gonna make it / Through this year / If it kills me."

"Whenever I had a moment where I just needed an outlet, I would play this song and belt it out at the top of my lungs until I felt better."

More than three years since she left politics, Ardern still resonates with the "grit" of the lyrics.

"It's a statement and an affirmation at the same time," she says.

Stream the new season of Take 5 with Zan Rowe free on ABC iView.